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I was lookiing thru some new cars to buy and they were all sedans. Ford Fusion has a 3.0V6 engine while a chrysler 300 has a 3.6L V6 engine.

What is wrong with a 2.4L or 2.5L ecotec/non ecotec engines.

why do people have big desire to having BIG BIG ENGINES like 4.0 HEMI engine or DIESEL?

Never really understood why? any thoughts?

What would be difference between a 2.4L v/s a 3.0L or 3.6L engine V6.
My understanding is the bigger the engine the more GAS GUZZLER it is ?

is that true?

 
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Thats why maybe i have a 1.7L VTEC Auto on my 7th Gen Civic and gives me atleast 30mpg.

 
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Bigger engine means more horsepower. Which comes hand in hand with requiring more gas/diesel

Most people that opt to go for these bigger engines, probably can afford to put gas in the tank how ever often they need to.

 
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does it have anything to do with ability to tow RV homes, uhaul Does a bigger engine make inside of a car any difference, stability, air conditioning, drive anything better.

 
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When you're towing something you want torque. Thats why large trucks use big turbo diesel engines that make a million ft/lbs of torque at super low rpm's. With a bigger engine comes more torque (most of the time).

Stability is kind of a broad term. A car with a bigger engine might feel more planted in a straight line because of the extra weight but also wont go around a corner as fast as the same car with say a smaller lighter turbo'ed engine with the same power.

And air conditioning depends on more parts than just the compressor (evaporator, condenser etc.) so its not safe to assume that a bigger engine and compressor will make the ac better

 
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My dad drives an f-150 with the 5.4l. The extra gas isn't an issue for us, and we've got a trailer we haul for motocross. Having the extra power is nice.

My mom drives a c300(3.0 v6). Once again, gas costs are irrelevant. She likes the power of the v6, she doesn't like i4's.

I'll admit, I prefer driving both of those over my civic. It's just much smoother accelerating and easier to get on the highway.

 
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A small 4 cylinder can tow a small trailer no problem. You just have to press on the gas more to get to speed. A lot of people buy cars with bigger engines because they can afford it and they have no concern about their energy consumption, or don't know that fast torquey hybrids exist They might have reproductive organ shortcummings too, but not necessarily

 
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How old are the F150 & c300. Aren't they bigger in size also to have that big car feeling around you with bigger seats, wider space everywhere (especially in Trucks).
Its my understanding that you should look for higher TORQUE , its irrelevant whether its a V6 or V8 or 2.4L engine. Eventually, as car gets old,(near 100k mi) the engine begins to make funny/loud noises. atleast i find that true with Diesel Engines that are old, old old.

also from your explanation bigger the engine the BIGGER GAS GUZZLER IT IS. gas prices should not be a major factor in your consideration of a bigger engine. If look for gas efficient cars that can give upto 30mi like most Honda/Toyota do, smaller engine is a better choice. the SMALLER the Engine, the better its gas mileage.

Is that true.

so between a 24 Valve VVT Chrysler with 3.6L V6 engine or 2.4L i4 DOHC 16Valve Dual VVT engine versus Ford 2.5L v/s 3.0L duratec V6 why would i lean more for a 3.6L engine v/s a 3.0L V6. What exactly is an advantage for it. I first bought my Honda in 2003 thinking a bigger 1.7L Ex model engine was somehow necessary/better. It also costs to have a 3.0L or 3.6L engine to be added to your car, and i am seriously wanting to understand what makes people think having a bigger engine is a good thing. (danwat thinks people who can afford it just buy it (is there some sort of bragging rights involved here in having a bigger engine on your car) (its kewl/cool thing to have). 4.0L & higher for me is just out of the question.

 
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Maybe thats why "CASH FOR CLUNKERS" GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, wanted to get rid of those big clunkers.

 
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Ever try to get on a freeway on ramp with 4 ppl in your civic?

 
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haha. well the main reason for a bigger engine is MORE TORQUE. thats really the only part of the power curve to look at for normal daily driving. unless you are racing and always above 5k rpms, then hp numbers are meaningless. bigger engines always have more torque and can actually get better mileage than a smaller engine. for example a 2.4L will easily sit in 4th with the converter locked out over most mild terrain, whereas the smaller 1.6L will be struggling with the gas mashed further and more than likely shifting into 3rd quite a bit (or you have to leave it in third to actually get any decent power). this kills mileage and makes the car work harder. unless you live on completely flat ground at sea level, having anything below 2.0L doesnt make any sense. now v6 is a whole different ballgame and even the efficient ones will be more wasteful. diesels seem to be the best at giving nice power in the city (under 55mph and under 4k rpms) while still giving incredible gas mileage. it really depends on the engine tho and you should always look at dynos to be sure.

 
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^ to add to it, torque at low RPM.
the only way to counter is to have a reeeeealy light car. (and a dieted driver :P)
and diesel are muuuuch better in mileage - almost flat torque curve

 
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import a diesel civic from overseas

 
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Yea good point, with an underpowered application, if you have a torque converter automatic it could be in less efficient gearing (heat loss to transmission) more of the time than a bigger engine. But if you have a manual, or automated manual, or CVT then I'm pretty sure a smaller engine would get more MPG no matter what.

But wait, with a small engine for an application, the engine could be operating in a less efficient mode more of the time (variable valve timing (including Atkinson valve behavior), efficiencies at different RPMs and throttles). So I guess nothing is certain.

EDIT: But I hope everyone can agree that it's very easy to get bad MPG with a V8, but very, very hard to get bad MPG with a <2L 4banger. The fuel injectors just aren't that big and there's only 4 of them.

 
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even with a manual civic you would need to keep the car in lower gear or mash the gas more than you would with a larger motor car, which would be happy cruising along in high gear with a tiny feathering of the pedal. i notice this so much where driving the civic i would need to hold the gas down to maintain speed, but with any other car the speed would increase when pressing the gas. you really have to adjust your driving habits. also depending on the car, you could get better mileage by getting up to speed faster vs slower. in civic, seems that keeping the rpm low and accel slowly tends to work better but in other cars its more efficient to get into highest gear asap.

 
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to start; i at this thread hahahhaha. why bigger engine? more power and torque for pulling and speed in short.

lmao ya even better when they are 'thicker' persons

priceless the first two lines are just great and yes, a small car can tow a small trailer no problem; but a heavy one? good luck. plus small cars with a hitch? no... buy a truck. my old eldorado, the previous owner put a hitch on it; and he owned 3 trucks.. really?

fast and torquey hybrids? what? where?

 
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too many AUTO TECHIES with extensive scientific know how to a very simple question of "WHY BIG ENGINE IS BETTER"..
in conclusion, IMHO

its the touch, the feel the fabric of our ride!!!!!!!..lol

 
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We tow a 6x12 enclosed trailer with 3 or 4 dirtbikes plus another 100-150lbs of tools, gear, and gas. If the f150 had only a v6, I know we'd be sitting at like 3k rpm cruising at 65 and prolly 4k-5k going up hills.

 
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here,


2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 0-60 mph 4.6
2012 Infiniti M35h (hybrid) 0-60 mph 5.2 Quarter Mile 13.4
2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid 0-60 mph 5.4
2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 0-60 mph 5.4
2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid 0-60 mph 5.4 Quarter Mile 13.8
2011 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid 0-60 mph 5.6
2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid 4WD 0-60 mph 5.8 Quarter Mile 14.3
2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid 0-60 mph 6.2 Quarter Mile 14.7
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Turbo 0-60 mph 6.4
2012 Honda CR-Z Mugen 0-60 mph 6.5
2006 Lexus RX 400h AWD (Hybrid) 0-60 mph 6.5 Quarter mile 15.0
2012 Audi Q5 2.0T Quattro Hybrid 0-60 mph 6.7
2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (3.3L) 0-60 mph 6.9 Quarter Mile 15.2
2005 Honda Accord Hybrid 0-60 mph 6.9 Quarter Mile 15.3
2012 Audi A6 Hybrid 0-60 mph 7.0 Quarter Mile 15.4

granted most of this "hybrids" don't get great mgp but hybrids nonetheless.

 
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The 2013 C-max/Fusion hybrid; 188 net HP, 141HP gas engine, EPA 47/47MPG. Not fast but so far it's getting good reviews and it weighs about 3500 pounds so it has good footing for towing a small trailer or whatever.

Chevy Volt weighs about the same and 0-60 of ~8.5s.
I agree, spendy cars!

@Artificial; Well with the V6 you still could go as fast as you wanted with that trailer with a bit of power to spare? Nothing wrong with a raging engine if you're still saving considerable fuel (if engine is bullet proof). Just mash the gas and crank the radio.

Yeah Civic; a SMALL trailer like I guess a 5x8 (u-haul 900lb curb) or smaller.

@Palsana(in reply to original post);
My attempt to really summarize the reasons;
People with high performance turbo4, V6, V8 cars don't buy it with the big engine to tow, they buy it cus they like good acceleration and don't believe in hybrids(reliability, green-ness, etc) or not happy with the current selection of hybrids or perhaps don't care about energy conservation/self-esteem issues(http://tinyurl.com/caovjh8).
Lots of celebrities are like this for some reason. Maybe if Bentley made a good plug-in hybrid they'd buy that (Eva Longoria I'm looking at you!) Luckily some drive eco-cars (Tom Hanks, Leno, Larry David, etc)

People with V8, diesel trucks buy it because it's often useful, others buy it because (look up), others buy it because it is rarely useful but usually (look up).
So there are lots of reasons why people buy and use what they buy and use. Most vehicles on the road today I'm sure are overpowered for what they are used for. That's why hybrids are cool; power on demand, kind of like Intel's Turboboost.
For heavy towing you'd want a plug-in hybrid so power on demand is sustained for a long enough time going up mountains and whatnot. In 20 years from now batteries will be way cheaper..
--
My next car will be a Subaru WRX plug-in hybrid I think, If Subaru ever gets in the game (and I can get a trailer hitch for it for utility). Adjustable front/rear torque delivery dial, yup. RWD for donuts in the snow, FWD for e-brake fun, auto for great traction. God I hope electric e-brakes don't catch on with green cars.
But my Civic won't ever die, so nvm.